Podcasts
Podcasts
Friday, August 21, 202608/21/2026
The Hustler Files Ep 174
ELIAS HUSAMUDEEN – A RIKERS RESET FOR AMERICA’S MOST INFAMOUS JAIL
Rikers Island has been synonymous with violence, dysfunction, and controversy for decades. But as New York City moves toward closing one of America’s most infamous jail complexes, former NYC Correction Officer and union leader Elias Husamudeen believes there’s another option: reinvent it. After 34 years working inside the New York City correction system, Elias brings a perspective shaped by firsthand experience. His ambitious Rikers Reset proposal would dramatically reduce the island’s jail footprint while creating space for education, transitional housing, mental health and medical care, rehabilitation and other resources
designed to address what happens both during incarceration and after release. Elias offers his insight about what Rikers is really like behind the headlines, why previous reform efforts have struggled, the enormous cost of closing and rebuilding New York City’s jail system, and why he believes rehabilitation, not simply new buildings is the key to reducing recidivism. Is it time to close Rikers Island, or is it time to completely reimagine what it could become?
Friday, August 21, 202608/21/2026
Big Deals
8/21/26, Co-Host- Josh Silver
Max Page w/ Ray Madoff, Prof & Dir of the Forum on Philanthropy, author of “The Second Estate: How the Tax Code Made an American Aristocracy.” Do you think the super rich aren’t paying anything like their fair share? You’re right—here’s how the tax system really works.
Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa: why is $1Billion in Fair Share money—for education and transportation—just sitting in a state bank account? The new abortion-access bill and the Protect Act –both now law. Congratulations to the advocates, the legislature and the governor.
Amherst College Professor Austin Sarat: Todd Blanche’s confirmation as Attorney General – why the country is in even deeper trouble; how the Republican-controlled Congress can seat the persons it wants regardless of the actual outcome of the 2026 elections.
Political Gold with Josh Silver: can the Democrats win control of the Senate in 2026? Here’s the story.
ArtBeat with Donnabelle Casis and Emma Chubb, Assoc Dir of Curatorial Affairs at the Smith College Museum of Art: the extraordinary exhibit of works by Alma Thomas, from the Smithsonian.
Thursday, August 20, 202608/20/2026
Music to Our Ears
8/20/26 Co-Host-Andy Bukowski
Mafer Bandola , one of the Ladama’s three absolutely amazing women musicians from across the Americas –high energy, soul-restoring joy and music –- coming to Whately this Saturday.
Tara Jacobs, Governor’s Councilor and candidate for re-election: confirming (or not) Parole Board members and Supreme Judicial Court nominees, operating as a check and balance, promoting diversity and Western Massachusetts.
Righting Wrongs: Carol Rose, Exec Dir, ACLU of Mass, on fighting Flock city by city and town by town; victories in important voting rights and immigrants’ rights cases!
All That Jazz: Northampton Jazz Festival President Ruth Griggs with Ken Longstreeth and Jeff Gavioli, members of the 19-piece Bad News Jazz and Blues Orchestra—a preview of their performance at the Jazz Festival.
Wednesday, August 19, 202608/19/2026
Do Look Up!
8/19/25, Co-Host Brian Adams
Courtney Andre, Dir, Mass. Ctr for the Book: the new anti-censorship, anti-book banning, law in Massachusetts, “An Act Regarding Free Expression;” the upcoming Mass Book Awards; and promoting love of reading.
Julie Sanders, Dir of Clinical Practice at Tapestry Health: the state of reproductive health care and reproductive rights in Massachusetts; tele-medicine, the mobile health van, health care for all.
Allison Bell, co-owner of Quonquont Farm, & Laurie Sanders, naturalist & Co-Dir of Historic Northampton, on “Valley Wild”—raptors, caterpillars & snakes—closeup encounters of an unforgettable kind—this Sunday.
Cool Films with Larry Hott and Smith Professor Gillian Kendall: the apocalypse is coming, the apocalypse is coming, the apocalypse is here — films and books on climate fiction, vampires, zombies, cauliflower heads and Shakespeare.
Tuesday, August 18, 202608/18/2026
For Your Awareness
8/18/26, Co-Host — Carrie Baker.
Amherst-Pelham School Supt Dr Xiomara Herman: a new school, a new school year, incredible offerings at the high school, & where 6th graders belong.
Trevor Dayton, Northampton Recovery Center Outreach Coordinator, & Taylor McDonough, City of Northampton Director of Substance Use Prevention, on Overdose Awareness Day internationally & here, and keeping our kids and communities safe.
The Comedy Quiz with Happier Valley Comedy’s Maddy Benjamin, Holly Ruderman & Scott Braidman. Come play with us — too much fun! The topic is rivers.
Feminist Futures with Smith College Prof Carrie Baker, NEPM investigative reporter Nancy Cohen & Atty Laura Mangini on the current investigations of, and sexual abuse cases against, churches and the clergy and whether the Massachusetts legislature will act.
Tuesday, August 18, 202608/18/2026
Looking Forward and Back
8/17/26, Co-Host Dan Torres
Jonathan Edwards, founder and CEO of Whately-based Virtual Wayback: using AI to make history alive
for all of us.
Michelle Ong-Hendrick, Chester Theatre Co-Artist Director and Director of the current production “Dear Alien.” As in, Dear Alien, I need your advise — Dear Abby for our time and space.
Nathaniel Malloy, Hadley Town Administrator, on new housing developments, including low-income and senior housing, the Overlay District & the successful override.
Republican Francis Rooney, former ambassador to the Vatican and former Florida Congressman, on the midterms, Trumpism & the future of the Republican Party.
Friday, August 14, 202608/14/2026
What’s Next?
8/14/25, Co Host –Josh Silver
Max Page, immediate past Pres of the Mass Teachers Ass’n: educators say to the governor and the legislature, show us the money, please! Also, why the MTA endorses Sen Markey for re-election.
UMass Prof Chang Liu, who was just awarded $1.3million from NIH for his AIDS research, an at-home HIV test with 95% accuracy.
Sen Paul Mark: what the legislature is doing this month, the Markey-Moulton race, & all the ballot questions.
WRSI’s Steve Sanderson and NEPM’s Monte Belmonte have too much fun previewing Transformance—next Tuesday at Look Park.
ArtBeat — Donnabelle Casis w/ Lydia Rivera-Early, UMass prof & organizer of the Latino Arts Festival at the Springfield Museums on August 28.
Thursday, August 13, 202608/13/2026
Some Good News
8/13/26, Co-Host — Andy Bukowski.
Exec Dir of Valley Community Development Corp Alex Breiteneicher: transforming the EconoLodge on Rt 9 in Hadley into affordable housing; the North Amherst affordable home ownership project – a promise fulfilled; permits granted for transforming 133 King Street in Northampton.
Dir of the Early Childhood Dept of the Collaborative for Educational Services Dr Desiree Lalbeharie: the new $1.1million yearly grant for young children’s mental health services here.
Beit Ahavah Rabbi Riqi Kosovske, who has just returned from Israel, on progressive activism and anti-Netanyahu politics there and here.
Northampton Jazz Festival Pres Ruth Griggs with jazz educator Ben Young on Jazz 101 – what you want to know and hear.
Wednesday, August 12, 202608/12/2026
Worlds We Know And Don’t
8/12/26: Co-Host Brian Adams
Lynn Griesemer, Amherst Councilor on the Jones Library, Hampshire College, Wildwood Elementary and the September return of the city called UMass.
Paul Spector, political activist and founder of Friday Action, on the upcoming event with environmental superstar Bill McKibben, the Maine race for the U.S. Senate, and keeping hope alive in dark times.
Jenny Powers, Director of the Springfield Science Museum: the moon takes a bite out of the sun today!!, eclipses, exoplanets & amazing pics from the galaxies beyond ours.
Cool Films with Larry Hott and Nina Kleinberg on “Casablanca,” the secrets of how films are made, and her upcoming presentation at Amherst Cinema.
Tuesday, August 11, 202608/11/2026
Journeys
8/11/26, Co-Host Amilcar Shabazz
Rep Pat Duffy: Freedom to Read law, the abortion bill, the Protect Act & Child Welfare legislation—all passed by the legislature and signed into law.
Rev. Carlos Anderson of Hope Community Church in Amherst: from a Black Congregational Church with a white pastor to the present day—the strange journey of race and faith in the Valley.
“Sweet Prince” with Hilary Dennis—her one-woman Hamlet, coming to the Center for the Arts.
Talkin’ Baseball with the Duke, Duke Goldman: How About those Red Sox? The owners are greedy and acting stupid—what else is new? How to enjoy this season with a lock-out pending.
